An atheist activist forced Chicago to change its Christmas tree recycling program, complaining it was unfair to non-Christians.

The city wanted to bolster its Blue Bag recycling program by offering a years worth of blue bags and some mulch to anyone who turned in a used Christmas tree.

But Rob Sherman, known for his campaign to keep crosses off city seals, protested to Chicago, insisting the trees-for-bags exchange unfairly benefits Christians, the Chicago Tribune reported.

"The concern was that the city had constructed a well-intentioned program, but the effect was that only Christians had the opportunity to participate," Sherman told the paper. "Christians had the opportunity to receive the blue bags for free. Atheists and others would have had to pay."

Responding to Sherman, the city now will allow anyone to get the blue bags if they bring in a large bag of recyclable material.

The city will now offer blue bags to anyone who visits one of 22 tree-recycling locations on Jan. 8 and brings a large bag of recyclable material.

"We'd prefer the tree, but we're willing to permit that. We've always been flexible," streets and sanitation spokesman Matt Smith told the Tribune. "The main thing is that we want people to recycle, and we want to keep these trees out of the waste stream."

Sherman, of suburban Buffalo Grove, doesn't live in Chicago, but he called the city's law department on behalf of a Chicago resident.

He told the Chicago paper that at one point he was told he could receive the blue bags if he brought in someone else's tree.

"Atheists shouldn't have to go begging from home to home for a Christian who will sponsor them into this kind of government program," he said.

While some argue that many non-Christians put up trees for the holidays, Sherman insists it's predominantly Christians who participate.

"No self-respecting atheist or Jew or Hindu puts up a Christmas tree in their home unless they are Christian wannabes," he said.

Sherman led a campaign to remove crosses from the municipal seals of the Illinois cities of Zion and Rolling Meadows.

To Athiests to Whom Christians, Christmas, Santa and Christmas Tree Recycling May Concern:

You are choosing to stress yourself out over Christians and their holidays. It's not your business. Choose to ignore it. They are hurting no one with their religious practices. Lay the hell off them... You will feel better.

While you're at it lay off Jews, Buddists, Islam, Mormans, etc.

Try to find some joy in your lives. Get a shrink. If you're worrying about this stuff, you need one.

I get more convinced each day that the only hope to cork these people is to ignore them as you would any child throwing a tantrum. Every time one of these clowns threatens a lawsuit, simply don't respond. If they sue, simply allow for civic "leaders" to continue to ignore them by not wasting money for defense. Then if some mindless twit of a judge decides to "hear" the complaint, these same civic leaders should ignore any ruling regardless of how it goes. Just don't read it.

As long as otherwise functioning adults continue to pay attention to these children, they will continue to push the envelope as any child will do.

Kind of like that wacko atheist Newdow taking up the cause of the Pledge for the sake of his daughter. These people are clearly in the minority. I am deeply offended when I am forced to change my traditions to appease their idiotic feelings. How come no one cares about my feelings?

He misses the major point which is anyone with a Christmas tree paid for it. He had the same opportunity to buy one if he wished. Because of this, there is no discrimination. Anyone could participate if they wanted to.

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